A Desert Health Review
When you walk into Jennifer’s Kitchen, you are reminded of a Napa Valley café, quaint with both bistro and family style tables and wine décor adorning the walls. My mother and I stopped by to enjoy lunch one day after meeting Jennifer and sampling her cuisine at the Desert Woman’s Show. I was pleasantly surprised to learn about Jennifer’s philosophy on clean cuisine and to review her menu full of fresh, organic options.
Jennifer’s Kitchen is open for lunch and offers an array of dishes that seem to cover a world of taste from the Greek falafel wrap to the tuna nicoise, from the Mediterranean tuna salad to the Chinese chicken salad. Favorites from the states include a cranberry turkey breast and New England clam chowder and the citrus chicken wrap and albacore tuna melt with sharp cheddar cheese.
My mom and I both tried a cup of the clam chowder which was not a thick cream, but a light clam-base broth with a touch of cream, chunks of potatoes and a generous helping of tender clams. It had exceptional flavor and was served in a cute little antiquish bowl. I highly recommend you try it if it happens to be the ‘fresh soup of the day.’
My mom (originally from Boston) opted for the cranberry turkey breast sandwich served with Swiss cheese on a moist cranberry pumpkin seed bread. The homemade cranberry, goat cheese and veganaise spread was unique and full of flavor. Jennifer offers half sandwiches as well which was perfect for mom.
I enjoyed the Greek wrap with baked falafa (also very moist) served with hummus, grilled red peppers and onions, and shredded romaine rolled in a garlic herb wrap. The secret ingredient was a homemade tzatziki sauce made with yogurt, sour cream, mustard seeds, mint, garlic, lemon juice and cucumbers.
Cooking has been a lifelong passion for Jennifer. As a child, she would often prepare meals for her family and always knew what she wanted to be when she grew up. Her journey led from Culinary School to serving as a private chef (for a well-known local celebrity) to caterering. Along the way, she noticed that the quality of food that people had become accustomed to in the standard American diet had decreased and that taste had been compromised as well. The source of these items and the farming practices used contributing greatly to these changes.
“The more I researched food and the food industry, the more I was drawn to sustainability and farm to table options. While it may be more expensive to choose organic, sustainable, farm to table and locally grown options, I knew it was the right thing to do,” states Jennifer.
In 2006, she opened Jennifer’s Kitchen as a place to showcase her favorite foods, gourmet food items, and a variety of select wines. The restaurant has grown to reflect her personal choices and now, “Our commitment is to always be at least 80% organic, green and clean.”
All chicken is free range and organic and turkey is nitrate and preservative free. All other ingredients and vegetables are organic and/or sustainable whenever and wherever possible. Jennifer offers an array of organic and ‘biodynamic’ wines which use a method of organic farming that “emphasizes the holistic development and interrelationships of the soil, plants and animals as a self-sustaining system.”
But beyond all that, the food at Jennifer’s Kitchen is just plain yummy! They are open for lunch Mondays through Fridays from 11am – 3pm. Entrees are affordably priced ranging from $5.95 to $11.95. If you are looking for a small, friendly atmosphere or a new place to try for vegetarian and vegan options, Jennifer’s Kitchen is the place to go.
Jennifer also offers full service catering with specialties including exclusively organic and vegan arrangements. You will see her at the Humana Challenge in Bob Hope Square serving up healthy sandwiches and vegan soups along with her biodynamic wines.
Jennifer’s Kitchen & Catering is located in Rancho Mirage at 70-225 Hwy. 111 off of Peterson Road. They are open for lunches only Monday through Friday from 11a – 3p. Reservations are not required, just stop in or call 760-324-3904. For catering, contact Jennifer at 760-202-9171.
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